Walker needed to put a few more pieces of his plan into play before he could tell Jaylyn everything he had going for them. Another two weeks had passed since Darien’s death, and she had her good days where she was happy and spent her time creating new recipes in her dad’s memory. Then there were mornings she couldn’t seem to get out of bed. He would curl up beside her and hold her as she cried and told him about growing up in Kansas.

The holiday party the Allard company hosted crept closer, but he had plenty of time to make sure he had his bases covered. With Darien gone, he wouldn’t risk losing the restaurant. It should be with Jaylyn.

He’d told Jaylyn she didn’t have to play cook for him anymore, and he meant it, limiting his dates with the other women. He was phasing his time with them out and was having Brittany over that night to inform her he no longer wanted to see her and that he’d made his decision. He doubted she would take it well but hoped things would remain civil. He had planned to get takeout, but Jaylyn had been busy in the kitchen all day.

“You don’t think this is strange?” he asked her as he watched from the kitchen table.

“I can’t sit around all evening,” she replied, putting a casserole in the oven. “The busier I keep my hands, the better off I am.”

He glanced at the clock. Brittany would be there in fifteen minutes. “Tonight I’m telling Brittany it’s over,” he said quietly and waited for Jaylyn’s reaction. She tossed a towel over her shoulder, frowning. “I already called Helena and told her the same thing.”

“So you’re going to marry Georgette?” she asked, her voice strained.

“I never said that, now did I?”

She blinked suspiciously. “What are you planning?”

“You said you trusted me, remember?”

“Walker, if you mess this up, you’ll lose everything,” she warned him, but he stood and closed the distance between them, silencing her worries with a passionate kiss. “You’re an idiot,” she whispered against his lips as she grinned and pulled him down for another one.

“I’ve been told.” He kissed her again. “Have a little faith. I know what I’m doing.”

The doorbell rang, interrupting his ideas of sharing a quickie with Jaylyn in the pantry, but the days for hidden quickies would soon be over. The days of hiding, period, would be over. He answered the door and Brittany threw herself at him the second she was inside. He dislodged her from his body and set her back on her feet. Maybe being polite wasn’t in his best interests tonight.

“Brittany, I’m glad you could make it on short notice.”

“Why wouldn’t I? I haven’t seen you in so long. I thought you’d forgotten about me.” She pouted and leaned in to try and kiss him again, but he backed up and his smile slipped. Her pout vanished and she glared at him. “What’s your problem?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“What’s your problem? You can’t get it on with me or any of the other women you date, but you’ll fuck the cook. I knew she was a slut.”

Walker’s sense of decency was gone in a shot. “Don’t insult her. She is a hundred times the woman you could ever dream of being, and I believe I don’t want you in my home any longer.”

Brittany’s mouth fell open. “You’re admitting it?”

“No, I’m not, but I will not tolerate someone badmouthing those who work under my roof. Jaylyn has been in my employ for months, and I have never received a complaint from a single guest, not one.”

“She sleeps here,” Brittany snapped. “Right next to your bedroom.”

“You’ve been upstairs?”

“I may have followed her at the party,” she confessed flippantly. “What do you see in her that you can’t get with me? I’m all woman, Walker, and I’d be more than happy to show you.”

He stepped back again and pointed to the door. “It’s time for you to leave. I’ve made my decision and it’s not you. Leave, or I’ll be forced to call the authorities.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” she snarled.

Walker smirked. “Actually, I have a better idea.” Placing his fingers to his lips, he whistled loudly. It only took a moment for the dogs to rush out of the kitchen and charge at Brittany. She yelped and ran out the front door, screaming about him being a bastard. Walker didn’t care. He watched from the doorway as the dogs chased her all the way to her car, wagging their tails and trying to jump and kiss her face. He chuckled with mirth and waved happily as he watched her drive away from his house for the final time.

“Where’s Brittany going?” Jaylyn asked, appearing beside him.

“She had to run,” he answered as the dogs ran back to the house. “I guess it’s just us and Douglas for dinner.”

“I guess so,” she repeated slowly.

“I’m not going to tell you so you might as well stop while you’re ahead.”

“Oh, come on. This is torture. Douglas.”

“Yes?” he called from the study.

“What’s he up to?”

Douglas put on a horrible innocent face and smiled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, I’m afraid.”

“Bullshit. The two of you are up to something that will make this mess even worse.”

Walker caught her arm when she tried to storm off to the kitchen. “Have I ever told you that you worry far too much?”

“Yes,” she muttered. “I think I’m allowed to.”

“No, you’re not.” He tilted his head subtly to Douglas, and the old man bobbed his in understanding, taking off for the rest of the day to give them some privacy. “In fact, I think you need to relax. How about a bath?”

“A bath? Now?”

He closed and locked the front door, and as she continued to protest, he picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. She squealed with laughter as he carried her upstairs, the dogs jumping and barking as they tried to lick her face.

“You’re a ridiculous man.” She sighed.

“What’s wrong with a nice, hot, soothing bath?”

He didn’t set her down until they were in his bathroom. He turned the water on, poured the bubbles in, and quickly undressed her. She gave up and let him disrobe her and help her step into the large tub. He joined her a few seconds later and drew her back into the warmth of his body as the bubbles swirled around them. He rested his cheek against the side of her head and breathed her in, the fresh herbs she cooked with always a familiar scent in her hair or on her skin.

“All right, this is nice,” she said quietly. “Am I ready to know yet?”

“I don’t know. Are you?”

“If I knew what we were talking about, I’d have a better idea,” she pointed out, but he kissed her cheek and gave nothing else away. “Will I like this surprise, at least?” She spun around and studied him long and hard.

Holding her chin softly, he brought her to his lips, kissing her softly at first before it turned into that blinding hunger he experienced when she was around. He drew her onto his lap and ravished her mouth as she straddled his lap. She rubbed her sex against his cock and his desire spiked. It had been a while since they’d had sex, and suddenly, being deep inside her as she screamed was all he wanted for the rest of the night. His fingers massaged her lips, and he rubbed along her cleft, spreading her folds wide as he rubbed with the palm of his hand, his fingers teasing and tugging her clit. She gasped and her head fell back. His eyes zeroed in on her perky nipples and he sucked one into his mouth. The water lapped at their bodies as steam rose around them. He needed her, but he needed to hear her release first.

His hand moved faster, rubbing in the places he knew she enjoyed. Walker’s heart exploded with more than desire. He loved this woman in his arms. Loved her no-bullshit attitude, loved how she took life by the horns and let nothing keep her down. Loved how she laughed with everything she had and wasn’t afraid to fight for what she wanted. He loved her, and as she clenched his fingers, crying out from the pleasure he gave her, he knew he was doing the right thing by making her his and giving himself completely to her. While she was still shuddering, he guided himself to her sheath and bucked his hips. She gasped as he filled her, and he groaned to feel her stretching and taking him in inch by agonizingly pleasurable inch.

Cupping the nape of her neck, he stared deep into her eyes as they came together as one. Her jaw dropped and her nails bit into his shoulders, but their gazes never left.

“I love you,” he whispered, thrusting again, and she clenched tighter around him.

There was no shock in her eyes, no fear, but the love that brightened her face as she smiled was all he needed to see. “I love you,” she replied, and they kissed in a frenzy of limbs and lips, dancing tongues, and the deep understanding that they were meant to be together.

* * *

Walker’s heart flew that night, and he kept her nestled close as they talked quietly after their bath and made love again. He covered her with his body, promising her without words that he would be there for her every day and every hour, every minute of his life. Their moans filled the night air; their love was their blanket, keeping them warm well into the wee hours of the morning. He stirred when the sun peeked through the curtains, and he saw Jaylyn splayed out beside him. He kissed her nose gently, not wanting to wake her, and slipped from the bed. He pressed his finger to his lips, trying to keep the dogs quiet, and freshened up in the bathroom. Jaylyn muttered in her sleep, rolling over, but she didn’t wake. He gazed at her from afar. His fingers remembered the feel of her skin and his mouth the perfection of her lips, her nipples, and her sex as she cried out for him again and again. Their times before had been great, but last night had changed everything for them both.

Today was the first day of his new life with Jaylyn.

He dressed and exited the bedroom to head to his study. Douglas wasn’t in yet, but he was sure he’d see him in a few hours. The date was circled on his planner for the holiday party taking place before Thanksgiving. About two months to go. His fingers tapping nervously on his leg, he picked up the phone and called the one woman he prayed would understand his plight and help him, especially if it helped her get what she really wanted.

“This better be good,” she grumbled when she answered. “Do you know what time it is?”

“I do, but it’s important,” he said. “Can you meet me for breakfast say, in an hour? Not as a date, either. As friends to discuss a very important matter.”

He heard rustling. “As friends.”

“Yes, please, Georgette. I believe I have a way to help us both.”

“Sure, why not?” she mused.

He told her of a café in town and she said she would be there in an hour. He hurried back upstairs and left a note for Jaylyn, promising he would be back in a few hours. Georgette wasn’t the only person he needed to meet with today. He kissed her cheek and left the house in a hurry.

When he reached the café, he found Georgette already there, coffee in hand, waiting for him. “Spill. What’s all this about?” she said the second he sat down.

“You and I won’t be happy together. You agree?”

Her eyes widened, but she smiled and nodded. “We won’t be, but I heard through the grapevine that you have sent Brittany and Helena packing, which begs the question that if you’re not going to be with one of them, who are you going to be with, Walker?”

He leaned back in his chair as she kept smiling. “You know already, don’t you?”

“Brittany told us about the cook—Jaylyn? Yes, she said she found out she stayed at the house. I’m not stupid. I knew there was a reason you weren’t pushing any of our relationships further than the dining room.”

“And you never said anything? Why?”

“You know exactly why.” Her smile faltered as her cell buzzed on the table.

Walker glanced at it. “The man you want to be with is on the other end of that phone call and the woman I want to be with…is currently fast asleep in my bedroom.” He reached across the table and rested his hand on hers. “We can’t have what we want until I marry a woman like you and a man like me is off the market so you can go back to the man you love.”

“You make it sound so easy,” she muttered sarcastically.

“I think it can be, in a sense.”

“How? Your father expects you to marry me and my father expects me to marry you. He’s very reluctant to let a man like you slip through his fingers.”

Walker prepared himself for her laughter when he said, “That’s why I think we need a fake marriage.”

“What?”

“Hear me out,” he said quickly. “I swore I would get Jaylyn her restaurant back, and with her father gone, I can’t fall through on that promise.”

Georgette’s hand curled at her chest. “I heard he’d died. How’s she holding up?”

“As good as can be expected.”

“Wait— I’m confused. Why would there be a fake marriage?”

“I want to marry Jaylyn for real, and within the next few days. However, my father will never approve of me marrying my in-home cook or the chef from the restaurant he bought out,” Walker explained. “So the fake wedding would be more of a ruse to throw my father off the scent until he’s signed the lodge and restaurant over to me. Then we can announce who I actually married, and he’ll be bound by his own contracts, unable to do anything about it.”

Georgette stared as if he lost his mind. “You’re crazy. You must present your wife at the holiday party. That’s two months away. You want to keep this going for two months? How?”

He grimaced. “I hadn’t gotten that far yet, but don’t you want to be with the man you love?”

“Obviously,” she whispered and grinned. “I planned on divorcing you about a month after the wedding, to be honest.”

“The same thought crossed my mind as well, but if we do it this way, there’s no messy divorce.”

She drank her coffee as the moment stretched on and Walker waited for her to say no. But when she set her mug down, she nodded.

“Yes? You’re saying yes?”

“I’m saying this will go to shit if we’re not careful, but I like you, Walker, as a friend. And I think it’s time we put our parents in their places. We’re thirty, after all. Time to let us grow up, yes?” She held out her hand and he shook it.

“You are most certainly right about that.”

“If you’re going to marry her, the ceremony has to be done in secret. Your house?”

“I had the same idea. Would you mind terribly picking out a dress with Mariah Wilson? And I’ll get on all the other details?”

“It would help spread the rumors around if I’m seen buying a dress,” she agreed. “Call me as soon as you need me.” She giggled and covered her mouth when he glanced at her funny. “Sorry, I haven’t had this much rebellious fun since I was a teenager.”

“Welcome back to the rebellious age.”

He told her he’d text her soon and texted Jaylyn, but there was no response so he assumed she was still asleep. His next stop was to see Mariah and ask her permission to marry her daughter in secret. He’d barely gotten the words out after she invited him into the kitchen when she jumped up and down with joy and hugged him.

“Yes. You have my permission, and this secret wedding thing sounds exciting. What do you need me to do?”

He was blown away by her enthusiasm but saw the need for distraction on her face and was happy to oblige. “I hoped you and a friend of mine could pick out her wedding dress. And the flowers, too. I know she’s not a traditional flower type of woman.”

“Not even close. Leave it to me. When do you want to do this?”

“Do you think it’s possible in two weeks?”

She hugged him again. “Two weeks it is.”

He was getting close to her birthday but didn’t want to get married on the day. However, this was sort of a present for her. He hoped. Part of him worried she’d hate him springing a wedding on her, but she had an adventurous side. Either she’d smack him and call him an idiot or she’d run with it.

His next stop took him to see Hannah at the bar, where he texted and asked Frankie to join them. When he told them the plan, Hannah was all for it, but Frankie looked ready to deck him.

“Oh, stop being a hard ass,” Hannah muttered and hit his arm. “You’ll do it. We’ll be there.”

“Good. Jaylyn wouldn’t want to get married without either of you.”

Frankie’s face softened. “Do you need anything from us?”

“Do you know an officiant we can get in two weeks?”

“You’re looking at one.”

Walker thought Frankie was kidding, but he pulled his wallet from his pocket and handed over a card. “You’re an officiant?”

“My sister asked me to become one last year. Pretty easy.”

“Do you mind? I think Jaylyn would get a kick out of it.”

“I’ll do it—and Walker, this better all be for real.” He tucked his wallet away. “If you break her heart, I’ll break your legs, and that’s not an idle threat.”

Hannah rolled her eyes and set three beers on the counter. “Stop with the pissing contest. A toast—to Walker and the future Mrs. Allard!” They drank their beers and Walker checked his cell. There was a message from Jaylyn asking if he’d be back for lunch.

“I’ll keep you both posted,” he said and paid for the beers. “I have to get home before she suspects anything.”

He drove through town but stopped at one more place on his way out to pick up a bouquet of colorful fall flowers and a cute, stuffed puppy. Two weeks. He had to keep the wedding under wraps for two weeks and then he could officially marry the woman he loved. A woman he never expected to find hiding in the restaurant his father bought out. How life worked out this way was a mystery, but he was finished fighting it.

* * *

Jaylyn snuggled with the pillow and tried to go back to sleep. Walker’s alarm had gone off earlier than normal, but he told her to stay in bed. He wasn’t going anywhere but had to make some phone calls from the study. She smiled when he kissed her and the dogs traipsed out the door after him.

For two weeks, he’d acted weird, and she had yet to figure out what was going on. She tried talking to her mom about it, but Mariah was out of town for a week. Her friends decided to take her on a cruise to get her away from Woodstock. Jaylyn didn’t argue. A vacation was just what her mom needed, and she was happy to see her go and have a good time. It left her with Hannah to talk to, but she was busy at the bar or with Frankie every time she called. Jaylyn thought it was weird but didn’t worry about it.

What did drive her nuts was the fact that her old rundown truck had vanished from the drive a week ago. She hadn’t wanted to part with it, since it was Darien’s, and when she asked Walker what happened to it, he said she had to be patient. That was only the start. Then he started bringing her flowers—a new one every day—and seemed to judge her response to them. After that, it was cake, not baked by him, and yesterday, he spent the whole afternoon dancing with her in the living room to various songs until they finally found the perfect one for them both. She’d asked him what he was doing, but he grinned and told her nothing. He was losing it. The deal with his dad and the pressure of the restaurant was making him lose his mind. She decided to ask if they could go away for a weekend, get away from New Hampshire and have a few days completely alone.

A knock sounded at the bedroom door and she frowned. Walker wouldn’t knock and it was far too early for Douglas to be there. Sitting up and making sure she had at least a t-shirt on, she called out, “Come in.” The woman who stepped inside was not who she expected at all and she yanked the covers up to her chin.

“No need to be shy, dear,” Georgette said with a bright smile, carrying a garment bag over her shoulder. “I’ve known for quite some time.”

“I’m dreaming,” Jaylyn muttered. “Right? This is a dream?”

“Hmm? No, not a dream,” she said and hung the garment up on the closet door. “But on the bright side, this isn’t a nightmare either.”

“Why are you here? And why are you smiling?”

“Because this is a happy day, trust me. You will be blown away. I think we got your size right. Your boobs are bigger than mine, I think, but it should work.”

Jaylyn shook her head. “My boobs?”

Georgette nodded and bounded to the bed, holding out her hand. “Come along, my dear. We have a lot of work to do to get you ready for today.”

Jaylyn’s mind raced. “I’m sorry, I just… I don’t understand what’s going on.”

“You are getting married.”

Jaylyn’s heart stopped and her jaw dropped. “I’m sorry, what?”

“You and Walker are getting married—in secret of course. It’s all part of his plan to get the restaurant back, and for him and me and you to get what we want.”

“I’m getting married?” she breathed and grinned in disbelief. “To Walker? Today?”

“Yes! It’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”

“But aren’t you mad about me being here?” she said, confused, and waved her arms around the bedroom. “I mean, you and he were dating and supposed to get married.”

“It turns out I’m in love with someone else, like he’s in love with you,” she explained. “Walker found a way to remedy this situation. So, do you want to sit there and keep talking about it or do you want to get married?”

“But my mom—she’s not here, or my friends?”

Georgette tugged Jaylyn out of bed and guided her to the garment bag. “They will be soon. I’m in charge of your hair, your makeup, and your dress.” She reached for the zipper and unveiled the dress hiding behind it. “What do you think?”

Jaylyn was speechless. The dress was ivory and had a plunging neckline with an overlay of lace and delicate beading. It was strapless and had a sash ribbon at the waist that trailed down the front to a slight mermaid hemline.

“Georgette…this is perfect,” she whispered. “How did you know?”

“Your mom, of course. You really think she’s been out of town this whole time? Nah, she’s been with me. She’ll be happy to know you approve.”

“How did you get my sizes?”

She giggled. “Ah, you’ll have to ask your soon to be husband about that. Something about you sleeping and him taking a measuring tape to you.”

Jaylyn let Georgette drag her to the bathroom so they could get started on her hair and makeup. Walker had organized all of this so they could get married and have their happily ever after. The lengths he went to for her touched her deeply, and her love for him grew as the hours ticked by. Mariah showed up with Hannah, both dressed for the black-tie affair. Hannah told her Frankie was with Walker downstairs, getting ready, along with Douglas and the dogs.

“But how is this going to work? Leo’s going to want to know who he’s marrying before he signs the contract,” she said in a panic after she slipped on the dress.

“All taken care of. I’ve been around three cities, shopping for dresses, tweeting about wedding plans, and everything else I can think of. When Walker tells his dad he’s waiting to officially present his wife at the holiday party, Leo will assume that the rumors were true and he married me.”

“And you’re sure his dad can’t go back on the contracts?”

“Nope. We had four different lawyers look at them. Your restaurant will be yours again.” Georgette hugged her. “You’re saving me, too, you know. Walker’s meant to be with you and you’re giving me the chance I need to be with someone I love.”

“Will you stay for the wedding?”

“If you want me to, I’d be honored.”

Hannah hugged her next and then Mariah. “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart,” she whispered. “Your father would be too. You look fantastic.”

Georgette had done her makeup with the hand of an expert and her hair was piled on top of her head with curls trailing down her back. Mariah handed over the bouquet of orchids and Hannah helped her dab at the tears blurring her vision.

“I love you all very much,” she whispered. “Thank you for doing this for me—for us.” Music filtered up from the first floor and she trembled with nervous excitement.

“Ready to get married?” Hannah asked.

“More than ready.” She walked out of the bedroom and let Georgette and Hannah go down the hall first. They disappeared when they made the turn on the stairs. Jaylyn took a deep, shaky breath and smiled at her mom, who was escorting her to her groom.

Jaylyn forced herself to take the steps slow so she didn’t fall on her face. When she reached the platform and turned, the living room had been transformed into a scene from a fairy tale. The furniture was gone and a white runner led from the bottom of the stairs to an arbor covered in orchids. Frankie stood in a tux under it and Walker was beside him. Tears brimmed in his eyes when he saw her, and Jaylyn nearly sprinted to him. He stared at her dress, and his smile widened with each step bringing her closer to him and their future together. Mariah held out Jaylyn’s hand, and Walker accepted it, bringing her around to face him.

“Are you surprised?” he asked.

“A bit, yeah,” she replied, laughing. “I can’t believe you did all this.”

“I think we’re worth it.” He pulled a box from his tux jacket and sank to one knee before her. “I figured I should at least ask,” he added as those in attendance grinned. “Jaylyn Wilson, we met because of a horrible situation, but now we’ve come together to learn a love stronger than any I’ve known. Be my wife? Share my life with me?” He opened the box and her heart flipped over the beautiful diamond and amethyst ring nestled in velvet.

“What do you think?” she finally managed to say.

He took the ring, slipped it on her finger, and they embraced, kissing as if no one was there. Frankie coughed loudly and cleared his throat. “Do you think we can marry you two before you lose your clothes?” he teased.

Reluctantly, they pulled away from each other and gave the floor to Frankie.

“Now, we have come together today in secrecy to wed a very good friend of mine and a man I have come to not only respect, but call a friend.”

Jaylyn squeezed Walker’s hands, and as Frankie talked on, looked into his eyes, seeing everything she wanted in a home and a life laid out ready to be lived.